grantcart
grantcart's JournalAnn Romney, "I also decided no more debates". CNN cancels debate after Romney pulls out.
How low can the Romney campaign go?
After finally handing Santorum a spanking at the debate they decide not to let Romney blow it by having him go to another debate.
But rather than make this controversial decision himself, and have to answer questions about it, Romney lets his wife announce it. I guess if we want to get other answers about the campaign and his policies we should just skip talking to Mitt and talk to Ann.
Should he become President I would guess that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs would be somewhat surprised to try and call Mitt at 3 AM only to find that Ann has said "no more 3 am calls".
Way to hide behind the spouse Mitt.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mckaycoppins/mitt-romneys-wife-wont-let-him-debate-anymore
TROY, Michigan — Apparently, Ann Romney is tired of sitting in the audience at the Republican debates — she's ready to get in on the action.
While introducing Mitt Romney at an event sponsored by Americans For Prosperity, the candidate's wife sang his praises, and then joked that she should just take his spot at the podium.
"I also decided no more debates," she said, as her husband stood next to her. "If we're going to do another debate, he's going to just sit in the audience and watch me."
CNN canceled a debate that had been scheduled for March 1, after Romney pulled out, citing scheduling difficulties.
Romney opens his mouth and lets Santorum back in.
I thought for sure that it was going to a brokered convention.
Have been hounding friends and relatives about it for months.
I finally convinced them of my convention math and they conceeded that it was possible and then Santorum tanked in the debates.
So I was sure that it would now end soon that Romney was going to wrap it up.
But nooooooooooooo Romney went to Detroit and started talking about the 'right size of the trees' and Anne's Caddies.
He got my hundred to one shot back in the game and if they go to a brokered convention I will have called it from the begining.
So of all of the strange things that have happened so far we are now left with this astonishing situation;
Romney opens his mouth and lets Santorum back in
Yes, it may be adolescent but it had to be said.
oh my Rubio is an 'apostate' Mormon, baptized and attended the Mormon Church for many years
Well this is just so delicious on so many levels.
Is he still a Mormon? Why did he leave?
But the most wonderful part is how Evangelical Freepers are going to need throat surgery to swallow this. Freeper land must be ready to explode.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mckaycoppins/exclusive-marco-rubios-mormon-roots#HTWF2
In the compelling personal narrative that has helped propel Florida Senator Marco Rubio to national political stardom, one chapter has gone completely untold: Rubio spent his childhood as a faithful Mormon.
Rubio was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with his family at around the age of eight, and remained active in the faith for a number of years during his early youth, family members told BuzzFeed.
Rubio spokesman Alex Conant confirmed the story to BuzzFeed, and said Rubio returned to the Catholic church a few years later with his family, receiving his first communion on Christmas day in 1984 at the age of 13.
The revelation adds a new dimension to Rubio's already-nuanced religious history—and could complicate his political future at a time when many Republicans see him as the odds-on favorite for the 2012 vice presidential nod. Vice presidential candidates are traditionally chosen to provide ethnic and religious balance to a ticket. Mitt Romney's Mormonism and Rubio's Catholic faith would already mean the first two members of minority traditions on a Republican ticket in American history. Rubio's Mormon roots could further complicate that calculation.
Rubio wasn't just a kid that tagged along with the family, he was really into it according to family members:
The story of Rubio's conversion to Mormonism, his enthusiastic immersion in LDS adolescent life, and his eventual departure from the church was recently related to BuzzFeed by two of the Senator's first cousins, Mo Denis, a Democratic State Senator in Nevada, and his sister Michelle—both of whom were close to his family at the time
'Apostate Mormons' is the term used by Mormons to describe people who leave the Mormon Church, also termed EXMOs
Here is what Joseph Smith said about Apostate Mormons
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex-Mormon
Young also said that "[if] there is a despicable character on the face of the earth, it is an apostate from this Church. He is a traitor who has deceived his best friends, betrayed his trust, and forfeited every principle of honor that God placed within him. They may think they are respected, but they are not. They are disgraced in their own eyes. There is not much honesty within them; they have forfeited their heaven, sold their birthright, and betrayed their friends."[37]
The mystery of why Romney tortured poor old Seamus is now explained.
Why would a person strap a dog to the top of the his car for a 10 hour trip?
Why would he keep him there after he became ill? Why would he hose him down and leave him on top of the car shivering from the cold?
Mitt helped explain this mystery yesterday when he explained what he meant by being "severly conservative".
Here is his answer.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/in-gop-debate-romney-defends-describing-himself-as-severely-conservative/2012/02/22/gIQAfqgFUR_story.html
MESA, Ariz. — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is explaining what he meant when he described himself as “severely conservative” at a conservative political meeting earlier this month.
Romney was asked about using those words when he and his GOP rivals debated Wednesday night in Mesa, Ariz. The state holds its primary Tuesday, as does Michigan.
Romney says “severely” means strict. He says he successfully pushed through several conservative policies as the governor of Massachusetts, a heavily Democratic state.
So it wasn't an understandable mis-speak from somebody that was on the stump all day, it reflects the twisted thinking of a very strange guy.
For Romney, strict = severe and severe = strict.
So I am sure that Romney sees himself as a strict father and pet owner and that would require severe methods of discipline.
Seamus was in need of some behavioral modification so the strict pet owner used some "strict" or severe methods.
Just lucky for the boys who were complaining about needing to go to the bathroom (the other weird part of the story is that the boys were told that there would be only one bathroom stop during the 12 hours) that the top of the roof was occupied or they may have met with some "strict" parenting.
This guy is "strictly/severely" weird.
Burma faces a fork in the road on April 1st by elections
Former BBC Corespondent Larry Jagan lays out the possibilities and challenges in the critical elections that are coming up in Burma:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/280941/hardliners-sulk-as-suu-kyi-shines
Much is riding on the outcome of the forthcoming polls in Myanmar, and more particularly the way in which these by-elections are conducted.
The initial signs are not encouraging. The election is going to be a real test of strength between the liberals who support the president's reform agenda, and the hardliners grouped around Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo, who seem intent on derailing the reform process, despite publicly declaring their support for democratic reform.
Campaigning for the forthcoming elections is already in full swing. Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is contesting a seat in the parliamentary polls scheduled for April 1, has already made several forays into the countryside, including touring parts of the constituency on the outskirts of Yangon in which she is running.
Tens of thousands of supporters and well-wishers have flocked her route on these occasions to glimpse the iconic figure, who has spent much of the last 20 years under house arrest, often in virtual solidary confinement. Everywhere her reception has been the same, adoring crowds yelling their support for her. "She's been treated like a pop star," said freelance journalist Min Thu, who has been following her entourage. "The excitement is overwhelming as people want to see her, wave to her, and for those close enough, to touch her."
PPP Latest Poll Santorum still leads in Michigan, race tightens
The race has tightened with Santorum's lead in Michigan down to 4% for the Feb 28th primary in Michigan.
It seems to indicate that if Romney overtakes Santorum in his home state it will be another narrow decision for Romney.
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/
The Republican race for President in Michigan has tightened considerably over the last week, with what was a 15 point lead for Rick Santorum down to 4. He leads with 37% to 33% for Mitt Romney, 15% for Ron Paul, and 10% for Newt Gingrich.
The tightening over the last week is much more a function of Romney gaining than Santorum falling. Santorum's favorability spread of 67/23 has seen no change since our last poll, and his share of the vote has dropped only 2 points from 39% to 37%. Romney meanwhile has seen his net favorability improve 10 points from +10 (49/39) to +20 (55/35) and his vote share go from 24% to 33%.
What we're seeing in Michigan is a very different story from Florida where Romney surged by effectively destroying his opponent's image- here Romney's gains have more to do with building himself up.
Groups Santorum has double digit leads with include Protestants (up 47-30), union members (up 43-23), Evangelicals (up 51-24), Tea Partiers (up 55-20), 'very conservative' voters (up 54-23), and men (up 40-28).
Santorum would be a courageous and brilliant GE opponent, we should fear him.
For the Right Wing Lurkers;
(You can quote at your little buddy sites)
We liberals should fear Santorum and not be making fun of him. He is a clear headed man with strong morals and principles. He will excite the 'silent' majority of the country and make it really really really really hard for us to bring our atheistic communalistic policies to fruition. We should hope that the Republicans pick anyone but Santorum.
For the rest of us;
Please ix-nay on the at-bay it-shay azy-cray ayings-sayof Antorum-Say until we get Omney-Ray out of the ace-ray. hat-thay way the Epublicans-Ray ill-way be ucked-fay even-say ay-ways to Unday-Say. Or-Fay ow-nay we ould-shay aise-pray Antorum-Say and etend-pray to ear-fay him until Omney-Ray is 100% blitered-o-ay to itherines-smay. Eep-Kay all of the Antorum-Say at-bay it-shay azy-cray ayings-say azy-cray iet-quay until he is the official 'presumed landslide maker' of 2012.
That is all
PPP Tweets: More bad news for Romney; Behind in WA and MI (still) No lead in AZ.
Even if he wins he is going to have to spend a lot of treasure to eek out marginal wins.
https://twitter.com/#!/ppppolls
Behind Santorum in Washington
Santorum still up about 10 points on Romney in Washington state through 2 days of our polling there
Romney doing weaker in AZ than expected
The first night of our polling in Arizona was pretty much a tie between Romney and Santorum
Romney still behind in MI
Santorum leading on the first night of our new Michigan poll, but much closer than we found
Republican Insiders begin to prepare for post MI primary meltdown
edited to add PPP latest tweet "Santorum leading on the first night of our new Michigan poll, but much closer than we found there a week ago."
Romney's inevitable meltdown is coming earlier than predicted. Even if he wins Michigan it will be at such a cost in treasure and reputation that it will become the new political definition of Pyrrhic Victories.
The establishment is begining to forsee a process that would go to Santorum or Gingrich.
Fear is palpable in the country club class. Multiple senior sources are begining to leak alternative plans if Romney fails in Michigan;
http://www.politico.com/playbook/
THE CONVERSATION: A tippy-top Republican, unprompted, yesterday sketched the germ of a plan for a new candidate if Rick Santorum upsets Mitt Romney in the Michigan primary on Feb. 28. Our friend brought visual aids: chicken-scratched versions of prosaic documents that are circulating among GOP insiders like nuclear-code sheets: In case of mayhem, break glass!
Most reporters still think Romney “will find a way to win Michigan.” Nevertheless, some of the nation’s most powerful Republicans are poring over filing deadlines and pondering worst-case scenarios.
Our friend handed us a printout of FEC deadlines for ballot access, with five of them circled and starred: California (March 23), Montana (March 12), New Jersey (April 2), New Mexico (March 16) and South Dakota (March 27). The point: Even after Feb. 28, it might be possible to assemble a Hail Mary candidacy that could garner enough delegates to force a CONTESTED convention (a different nuance than BROKERED, which implies that someone is in charge).
At the same time that they were meeting they literarrly bumped into this reporter who had his own official leak from another Republican Senator
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/top-gop-senator-says-if-romney-loses-michigan-we-need-a-new-candidate/
A prominent Republican senator just told me that if Romney can’t win in Michigan, the Republican Party needs to go back to the drawing board and convince somebody new to get into the race.
“If Romney cannot win Michigan, we need a new candidate,” said the senator, who has not endorsed anyone and requested anonymity.
The senator believes Romney will ultimately win in Michigan but says he will publicly call for the party to find a new candidate if he does not.
“We’d get killed,” the senator said if Romney manages to win the nomination after he failed to win the state in which he grew up.
“He’d be too damaged,” he said. “If he can’t even win in Michigan, where his family is from, where he grew up.”
Romney is doomed (part 24) Romney delegate (OHIO AG) switches to Santorum.
For the last 4 months I have been explaining why the Evangelical wing could not accept Mitt Romney. He entered with two strikes out because of Mormon/Evangelical antipathy and then the third strike is, well, he is Mitt Romney.
Now the rats have begun to jump the ship. Contrary to what some people think Romney doesn't really have very good ties to the Republican establishment. He didn't spend the last four years with Seamus strapped to the top of his car going from district to district helping to raise money for Congressional candidates. Moreover people don't like him very well, including establishment people. According to DemocraticConventionWatch.com he has garnered only 18 superdelegate endorsements.
http://www.democraticconventionwatch.com/diary/4726/republican-superdelegate-endorsement-list
Now it appears even the few that hitched their wagon to Romney are starting to abandon him.
Ohio AG DeWine switches from Romney to Santorum
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine switched his endorsement from Mitt Romney to Rick Santorum on Friday in a defection he said was driven by his belief the former Pennsylvania senator can win the Republican presidential race.
DeWine, a former senator who led John McCain’s Ohio presidential campaign in 2008, made the announcement in the company of Santorum at the Statehouse. He said he once felt Santorum could not overcome Romney’s financial advantage but has decided he was wrong.
“To be elected president, you have to do more than tear down your opponents,’’ DeWine said. “You have to give the American people a reason to vote for you, a reason to hope, a reason to believe that under your leadership, America will be better. Rick Santorum has done that. Sadly, Governor Romney has not.’’
. . .
Ohio Democrats, through their spokesman Seth Bringman, issued a terse statement in response to DeWine’s decision: “As is true for countless Ohioans, the more Mike DeWine learned about Mitt Romney, the less he liked.’’
Here is the video of the event. In this short clip you see how pissed people are at Romney, more emotion than any pro Romney event.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2012/02/17/dewine-santorum-endorsement.wcmh
Even if Romney eeks out a victory in Michigan it will be to no avail. It will be a pyrrhic victory. To have to spend a huge amount of money to win your home state, and a state that is best suited to your demographics just exposes how weak your support is.
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